SURVIVING THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE
by Max Strider
Chapter 3: Common Infected
Common Infected are the more common infected, but I guess you already knew that. If not, you might be one. They're the least troublesome alone, but they seldom travel alone. Usually, there'll be several densely packed into an area, making avoidance very difficult. They're basically anywhere you can think of: playgrounds, parks, houses, prisons, even occasionally safe houses (which will be discussed later).
Who Becomes a Common Infected?
Just about anyone can become a Special Infected. They can be young, old, short, tall, male or female, it doesn't matter. However, some Infected people become Common or Special Infected for only a sort time, before their bodies give out and they die for real. No possible revival. As depressing as that is, they're probably the luckiest ones of all.
What Happens While Becoming A Common Infected?
Well, as I said before, it slowly progresses until you are an Infected. The pain becomes more heightened and you start losing memories, first small things, like the names of movies or celebrities. Then you forget the names and even faces of acquaintances, then close friends, then even family members. The last thing you forget is how to speak. Right before that if your name. While you're forgetting things, you're also falling apart on the inside. Your usually leak fluids (mostly blood), usually through your mouth, nose, and eyes. You also, of course, experience pain. This time is probably the most painful for Common Infected, as far as I can tell from just watching my friends and random wandering Infected.
What Happens After I Change?
Define "after." You're technically always changing. Your pain comes from this slow changes. They include the shifting, tearing, and leakage of your organs. You will continue to leak blood and other fluids, but your body, still being alive, is alive enough to still produce more of these fluids. Less of the fluids are produced when and Infected doesn't eat. And they're favorite snack? Why, people, of course.
What Should I Do When Faced With A Common Infected?
Common Infected are easier to kill than Special Infected. Depending on where you hit them, they can be taken down with from 1 to 15 bullets. It also depends on the gun or weapon. As zombie stereotypes suggest, decapitation is 100% effective. But keep in mind that it's not as easy as it looks in the movies. Decapitation is easiest with something heavy, like an ax, or even a chainsaw if you can find one somewhere. But remember, for these things to work, you have to get close to them, giving them a chance to slash at you. So I recommend a gun or two. (A/N: I haven't played in a while so I don't actually remember actual shot amounts, so I'm guessing based on what I can remember.) Pistols are easy to use, light, don't pack to much of a recoil, and are easy to reload. However, it can take 3 shots to the head or about 6 shots to the body to kill a Common Infected with one. It should be your second to last resort (last being a melee weapon). You should try to get your hands on bigger guns. Automatic Machine Guns are good, if you're surrounded by them. But they don't pack a big punch. It takes maybe 10 or 20 bullets to really kill them. If you're in an inactive area, and you're just sniping out ones that wander near your hiding spot, get an assault rifle or shot gun. They're heavy and have a really powerful recoil, but they're super powerful and efficient. They can take down a zombie with one shot to the head, or two or three to the body. That is, if you play your cards right. However, if your trying to be discrete from a hiding spot or something, get a silencer. Most rifles are really loud, so they'll attract the attention or other Infected. Also, they don't take many bullets at once and they're bullets can be heavy, so you want to use them sparingly. If you're not a good aim, get a scope and maybe even a laser sight. It does help a lot. Cause, ya know, we can't all be master snipers.
How Do They Interact With Other Infected?
They don't really do anything. They'll bump into each other and just groan and walk away. I don't know how they know who is and isn't Infected. They just do. I don't suggest testing any personal theories unless you're okay with dying. But their bodies are pretty hot, seeing as this is a flu, so maybe they can, like, see the lack of heat radiating off of your body. I can't really tell.
As far as interacting with Special Infected, they do the same as they do with Common Infected: NOTHING. I once held onto the back of the neck of one that was just walking around and all he did was keep moving forward.
Being ignored is annoying. So I distastefully call them "Walkers" and tend to avoid them.
AM I A COMMON INFECTED?
No. You can read this, so you're not. If you can't read this, you're either stupid, or you're a Common Infected. Not that this can really inform you of those things at this point. But if you're not Infected by now, you probably won't be (the reason why will be discussed in later chapters.)
How to Avoid Common Infected
Well, there is no way for me to know or test how to avoid detention, but you could probably find a small lockable room that seems pretty sturdy. Make sure there is some means of looking at the outside of the door and make sure everything that can be lock is locked. Common Infected are pretty claustrophobic, so they don't like small rooms. It's unlikely to find many in a small room. There are also things called Saferooms that will be discussed later that you can go into if you run into it.
Is This A Common Infected?
Key physical aspects and actions unique to the Common Infected are:
~A disheveled appearance
~Blood spilling over from the mouth or eyes
~An overall unchanged physical structure; very human (as compared to Special Infected mutations)
~Groaning
~Bumping into or leaning on walls
~Incoherent sounds/speech patterns
~Cataracts/fogged over eyes
Also, though it's not found exclusively in the Common Infected, their eyes also reflect light, which is in just about every Infected. They also have grayish skin, which most Special Infected also have.
I Got Bit! What Now?!
You're going to become an Infected. Bottom line. If this isn't the future you want, feel free to kill yourself. If you don't really care, go on and sit somewhere and change. It'll hurt, but if they find a cure, and they cure you, you probably won't remember it unless you're a Special Infected.
However, there is one way you can possibly avoid becoming Infected. You'd need to quickly amputate wherever you were bitten. This isn't 100% fullproof because the Infection could have traveled farther than you could have avoided, meaning you just cut your arm off for nothing. However, if you do successfully rid yourself of the Infection, you've just rendered yourself handicapped, making it harder for you to defend yourself and you'll probably die anyways, so I suggest letting what happens happen.
For Your 411: My Suggestions for Survival
In general, Common Infected are dangerous, but probably the least of your worries. Because you could find an Infected-free room, but you'll need food or blankets or something along those lines or basic needs. You could easily die from exposure or starvation or another illness. So avoiding Infecting shouldn't really be your number one priority, as crazy as it sounds. It should be to get what you need to survive. Get food that won't go bad, like canned food or granola bars or something. Also, I think I already mentioned this, but if I didn't, people will probably not let you into their safehouses, whether it's a random Survivor in a house somewhere or the government's actual safe havens. It's just too risky at this point in time. I suggest you follow their examples and not let anyone in. It's every man for himself out there for you guys. You want to stay alive as long as possible. Don't give up, no matter how horrible it may seem.
